D.O.B: 69 A.D. D.O.D: 30 A.D. Cleopatra was a leader, a visionaries, a thinker, an icon and a revolutionary ancient-world woman.
Introduction: Cleopatra VII, is the women who boldly challenged the Roman colossus and in so doing become a legend of all times. A legend remembered today throughout the world. She is the top most influential person in world history. Not only remembered as Egypt’s last queen, but for all she did to stave off Roman domination. Cleopatra was an extremely common name around her time. Indeed even her mother was called Cleopatra. However today she is purely known by her first name, without the roman numerals. Even famous kings, such as King Henry VIII are still only recognized with the Roman numeral, or else one would be unsure of which king Henry (as there were many just like there were with Cleopatra’s) one is referring too. To not be unsure of which Cleopatra one refers to today, is the clearest indicator of her enormous influence in world history. To the point where no Roman numeral or surname is needed after her first name to understand which Cleopatra one intends to refer too. It is for this and many other reasons that one cannot question why her legacy, even in death was remembered as ‘larger than life.’ The way she wanted to be remembered. Without her contribution Egypt would still have been in terrible conditions; drowned in debts and the mistakes the ruler before her (her father, king Ptolemy Auletes XII, largely an incompetent ruler) left it in. Egypt at that time was an independent country however without her contribution it still would have been nothing more than a client (a state economically and militarily dependent to another) of Rome. Cleopatra gave herself in her entirety in all existing aspects one can posses, which created this enormous legacy. She was fighting for something good. She was fighting to make her country a better, freer place for not only herself but for all her people. At the time that she ascended to the throne at the age of 18 Egypt was simply a client of Rome. She proved to the world not in modern times, but in ancient, that women (as at the time women were nothing in respect to men) can achieve anything, and indeed that anyone at anytime can achieve anything, through using what one possesses to in turn receive what one wants. Cleopatra had much to lose. Her country, her strong pride, her sense of self, her people’s respect/support,her reputation, her children’s fate, etc. She did in the end lose the battle (battle of Actium between Cleopatra/Marc Antony and Octavian) and it was her rivalry with Octavian and her strong pride that lead to her death. However her legacy and achievements are still, and always will be alive and recognised throughout the world. Today, (and for countless years) her tomb burial is one of the most searched for amongst archaeologists today, as she is an extremely famous, world-known queen who changed the ancient and subsequent periods in time, her ideals still present today, thousands and of years ago “Through her own unaided genius she captivated the two greatest Romans of her time, and because of the third, she destroyed herself.” - Quoteby, Cleopatra Last Queen of Egypt. By Joyce Tyldesley. Published in Great Britain in 2008 by PROFILE BOOKS LTD
· Timeline 69 - Cleopatra born in Alexandria 51 - Ptolemy Auletes, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies, leaving his kingdom to his 18-year-old daughter, Cleopatra, and her younger brother Ptolemy XIII. Pompey is in charge of Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII. 48 - Cleopatra is removed from power by Theodotas and Achillas. 48 - Pompey defeated in Thessaly, at Pharsalus in August. - Pompey murdered as he steps ashore in Egypt on September 28.
1000 word explanation: The politically astute Cleopatra, the top most influential person in world history, knew that, to get ahead and make her mark in what was clearly a Roman world, she needed to befriend rather than alienate Roman leaders. It in fact was her rivalry with a third powerful Roman, Caesar’s adopted son Octavian, which eventually brought about her downfall. It was this knowledge that she, unlike her previous ancestors and her brother, Ptolemy, possessed that made her the sole ruler of Egypt in 48 A.D. Initially Caesar demanded that her and her brother of eight years her junior, Ptolemy marry and rule jointly as King Auletes had intended in his will. Ptolemy and his powerful advisor, Pothinus unwisely chose to disobey and instead fight Caesar. Both soon paid for this mistake with their lives. It was at this time that, Caesar an eminently practical man, realized that Cleopatra as his lover and confidant would make him and Rome a valuable ally. He therefore reinstalled her on the Egyptian throne with great splendor and ceremony. Hence officially making her the sole ruler of Egypt whilst also proving her point that she would only get ahead if she befriended not estranged powerful Roman men from her life (even though she contradicted this motto in regards to Octavian). Unlike Ptolemy, Pothinus and her other adversaries at court, who hated and staunchly resisted Roman influence, she recognised the political reality of the day. That making the exploiting alliances with strong Roman men was the logical way for any minor ruler, but especially a female one to get ahead.
Egypt, when Cleopatra ascended to power, was still an independent nation. At the time it was a third-rate power. However, it, like others before it, had come to be dominated in the international scene by Rome, the most powerful nation-state in the known world. Indeed the Egypt of Cleopatra’s childhood was little more than a client (a state economically and militarily dependent to another) of Rome. Roman leaders generally looked on both Egyptians and Greeks and inferiors. Yet the two men she fell in love and had children with were both powerful Romans. Regardless of their power it was not the two powerful Romans, Caesar and Marc Antony, that controlled Cleopatra, but Cleopatra who controlled both these powerful men in the relationship. This on its own allows one to understand just how; charismatic, diplomatic, godlike, beautiful, Majestic, elegant, courageous, manipulative, charming, strong, engaging, pretty, she was, and how she used this to her advantage throughout all aspects of her life. She presented herself as the earthly representative of Iris. This image/propaganda she created for herself helped her with her, ‘larger than life’ legacy.
Cleopatra rebelled against men's manipulation of her traditional role. One might argue that perhaps no man could have done as much as she was able to do to stave off Roman domination, even though her efforts eventually failed. the cause of race-rivalry has also taken place because of her legacy. Nevertheless her inclination towards cultural fusion, led to further cooperation as opposed to competition. There were also issues arising from cultural politics. Aspects of her legacy thus remain of more than a romantic interest.
Cleopatra’s place in world history is vital. She is the women who initially ascended to the throne where she was she was beset by tensions, petty rivalries, and veiled threats to her royal status. It was her brothers advisors that took every opportunity to discredit her. The most powerful of his advisors, Pothinus blamed her for the country’s continuing economic problems. Thanks to him and those courtiers who intrigued with him, she then became increasingly unpopular at court. In September 49 A.D. she was forced to flee the capital and go into hiding (accompanied by some still loyal servants and guards. Soon afterwards taking refuge in the neighboring land of Syria). However she overcame this. One might say, she spoke to the right people, and placed herself in the right position at the right time and in turn ended up becoming firstly the all-mighty Caesars lover, and then the just-as-powerful Marc Antony’s lover (and love of his life. Proved when, she killed herself, by a poisonous snake bite, and he travelled back to her monument and stabbed himself to death. He died in her arms in 30 A.D).
Concisely summarizing her life in the second-century A.D. Greek historian Dio Cassius wrote: “Her initial rise to power in Egypt followed a series of mistakes made by her father. Largely an incompetent ruler. In his will he said that Cleopatra Vll (18) and her 10 year old brother Ptolemy XIII were to rule the country jointly.” This Primary source is a clear indication that Cleopatra as queen had to overcome all the follies and mistakes made by her father and also her brother (and his two advisors). If one thought that a person alone, let alone a women not a man, would not be able to fix and rid their country of these mistakes, whilst staving off Roman domination, alluring the two most powerful Romans of that time to fall in love with them and making Egypt a better country for all their people, than one is seriously mistaken. As Cleopatra did all of this, and more. It is for this reason that she is the top most influential person in world history.
Cleopatra was an independent women, whom showed the world, much before the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1960’s A.D that women are a man’s equal, that they too can do anything they want, just as a man, regardless of their sex. She did this by simply ridding her country of its mistakes. This life-long lesson was proven to the world thousands of years (in the ancient era) before women started to be seen as anything but housewives in the modern era.
One might argue that perhaps, what drew Anthony to Cleopatra was, ‘the fact that she, a foreign women had so many of the personal leadership qualities that he, a Roman man, sorely lacked. ’ During most of the time they were allied, she administered Egypt alone, and evidence suggests that she was a caring, capable, and efficient ruler who managed the economy well (unlike her father) and treated her people justly. She is yet again proving to not only the ancient world but also the modern world, that a woman and even a person alone can achieve anything.
During Cleopatra’s reign, in glaring contrast to those of her predecessors, there were no rebellions and tax collection proceeded normally. She improved and expanded agriculture, producing large surpluses of grain and other foodstuff, thus eliminating food shortages and lowering food prices. ‘Proof of her wise administrative policies and concern for her people’s welfare takes the form of a surviving decree, issued in her name, and also in Caesarion’s (her son with Caesar) on April 13, 41 B.C.’ All of this was done during a reign of a women alone. Something that even the men before her were unable to achieve.
Cleopatra showed her diligence and thoughtfulness as a ruler in other ways. She took the time to become fluent in Demotic Egyptian, the local language (something her ancestors never did) and used it, along with Greek at court. She also went to great lengths to observe Egyptian religious rites portraying herself as the earthly representative of Isis. It was this, want and determination to be the best and to be a ruler that her people can understand and be on the same level with in terms of language, that make her the top most influential person in world history. She realized that she had to make her people pleased and impressed by her. This is a strategy still used today, in the twenty-first century with democratic politicians. They talk in a colloquial language to get on the same level as there people. As this strategy allows the people to feel up-most comfortable with the politician and will therefore vote and support them.
Cleopatra’s legacy and achievements have proved to be ‘larger than life,’ as she was a living example of many things that we still, today use and believe. Therefore Cleopatra is the top most influential person in world history. Historical perspectives on Cleopatra
There are many different historical perspectives of this immensely influential women. Some historians suggest that she was but a politically-striving, cold-hearted, manipulative, scheming women, whom could care less of anyone or anything that did not help her. Octavian, Caesars adopted son, called her a, whore.
Others say however, that she was a beautiful woman and it was her beauty and her sexual aspects that allowed for all she did and all that happened in her life become what they became.
Artifacts This is the way Cleopatra is represented on the coin. This is Cleopatra and Marc Antony’s representation on their coins, and sculptures.
D.O.B: 69 A.D.
D.O.D: 30 A.D.
Cleopatra was a leader, a visionaries, a thinker, an icon and a revolutionary ancient-world woman.
Introduction:
Cleopatra VII, is the women who boldly challenged the Roman colossus and in so doing become a legend of all times. A legend remembered today throughout the world. She is the top most influential person in world history. Not only remembered as Egypt’s last queen, but for all she did to stave off Roman domination. Cleopatra was an extremely common name around her time. Indeed even her mother was called Cleopatra. However today she is purely known by her first name, without the roman numerals. Even famous kings, such as King Henry VIII are still only recognized with the Roman numeral, or else one would be unsure of which king Henry (as there were many just like there were with Cleopatra’s) one is referring too. To not be unsure of which Cleopatra one refers to today, is the clearest indicator of her enormous influence in world history. To the point where no Roman numeral or surname is needed after her first name to understand which Cleopatra one intends to refer too. It is for this and many other reasons that one cannot question why her legacy, even in death was remembered as ‘larger than life.’ The way she wanted to be remembered. Without her contribution Egypt would still have been in terrible conditions; drowned in debts and the mistakes the ruler before her (her father, king Ptolemy Auletes XII, largely an incompetent ruler) left it in. Egypt at that time was an independent country however without her contribution it still would have been nothing more than a client (a state economically and militarily dependent to another) of Rome. Cleopatra gave herself in her entirety in all existing aspects one can posses, which created this enormous legacy. She was fighting for something good. She was fighting to make her country a better, freer place for not only herself but for all her people. At the time that she ascended to the throne at the age of 18 Egypt was simply a client of Rome. She proved to the world not in modern times, but in ancient, that women (as at the time women were nothing in respect to men) can achieve anything, and indeed that anyone at anytime can achieve anything, through using what one possesses to in turn receive what one wants. Cleopatra had much to lose. Her country, her strong pride, her sense of self, her people’s respect/support,her reputation, her children’s fate, etc. She did in the end lose the battle (battle of Actium between Cleopatra/Marc Antony and Octavian) and it was her rivalry with Octavian and her strong pride that lead to her death. However her legacy and achievements are still, and always will be alive and recognised throughout the world. Today, (and for countless years) her tomb burial is one of the most searched for amongst archaeologists today, as she is an extremely famous, world-known queen who changed the ancient and subsequent periods in time, her ideals still present today, thousands and of years ago
“Through her own unaided genius she captivated the two greatest Romans of her time, and because of the third, she destroyed herself.”
- Quote by, Cleopatra Last Queen of Egypt. By Joyce Tyldesley. Published in Great Britain in 2008 by PROFILE BOOKS LTD
· Timeline
69 - Cleopatra born in Alexandria
51 - Ptolemy Auletes, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies, leaving his kingdom to his 18-year-old daughter, Cleopatra, and her younger brother Ptolemy XIII. Pompey is in charge of Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII.
48 - Cleopatra is removed from power by Theodotas and Achillas.
48 - Pompey defeated in Thessaly, at Pharsalus in August.
- Pompey murdered as he steps ashore in Egypt on September 28.
- Caesar restores Cleopatra to the Egyptian throne.
47 - Caesarion (Ptolemy Caesar), Caesar and Cleopatra's son, born June 23.
46-44 - Caesar, Cleopatra in Rome
44 - Assassination of Caesar on March 15. Cleopatra flees to Alexandria.
43 - Formation of the Second Triumvirate: Antony - Octavian (Augustus) - Lepidus
43-42 - Victory of the triumvirate at Philippi (in Macedonia)
41 - Antony meets Cleopatra at Tarsus and follows her to Egypt
40 - Antony returns to Rome
· The Second Triumvirate partitions the Mediterranean:
1. Octavian - Commands the western provinces - (Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, Transalpine Gaul, Narbonne)
2. Antony - Commands the eastern provinces (Macedonia, Asia, Bithynia, Cilicia, Syria)
3. Lepidus - Commands Africa (Tunisia and Algeria)
36 - Elimination of Lepidus
· Octavian controls Africa and becomes the effective ruler of Rome
· Parthian campaign of Marc Antony
35 - Antony returns to Alexandria with Cleopatra
32 - Antony divorces Octavian's sister Octavia
· Western provinces pledge allegiance to Octavian
· Declaration of war on Cleopatra
31 - Battle of Actium (Sept. 2) and victory of Octavian; Antony and Cleopatra seek refuge at Alexandria
30 - Victory of Octavian at Alexandria
· Suicide of Antony and then Cleopatra
· Egypt becomes a Roman province
(Taken from ©2010 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company
1000 word explanation:
The politically astute Cleopatra, the top most influential person in world history, knew that, to get ahead and make her mark in what was clearly a Roman world, she needed to befriend rather than alienate Roman leaders. It in fact was her rivalry with a third powerful Roman, Caesar’s adopted son Octavian, which eventually brought about her downfall. It was this knowledge that she, unlike her previous ancestors and her brother, Ptolemy, possessed that made her the sole ruler of Egypt in 48 A.D. Initially Caesar demanded that her and her brother of eight years her junior, Ptolemy marry and rule jointly as King Auletes had intended in his will. Ptolemy and his powerful advisor, Pothinus unwisely chose to disobey and instead fight Caesar. Both soon paid for this mistake with their lives. It was at this time that, Caesar an eminently practical man, realized that Cleopatra as his lover and confidant would make him and Rome a valuable ally. He therefore reinstalled her on the Egyptian throne with great splendor and ceremony. Hence officially making her the sole ruler of Egypt whilst also proving her point that she would only get ahead if she befriended not estranged powerful Roman men from her life (even though she contradicted this motto in regards to Octavian). Unlike Ptolemy, Pothinus and her other adversaries at court, who hated and staunchly resisted Roman influence, she recognised the political reality of the day. That making the exploiting alliances with strong Roman men was the logical way for any minor ruler, but especially a female one to get ahead.
Egypt, when Cleopatra ascended to power, was still an independent nation. At the time it was a third-rate power. However, it, like others before it, had come to be dominated in the international scene by Rome, the most powerful nation-state in the known world. Indeed the Egypt of Cleopatra’s childhood was little more than a client (a state economically and militarily dependent to another) of Rome. Roman leaders generally looked on both Egyptians and Greeks and inferiors. Yet the two men she fell in love and had children with were both powerful Romans. Regardless of their power it was not the two powerful Romans, Caesar and Marc Antony, that controlled Cleopatra, but Cleopatra who controlled both these powerful men in the relationship. This on its own allows one to understand just how; charismatic, diplomatic, godlike, beautiful, Majestic, elegant, courageous, manipulative, charming, strong, engaging, pretty, she was, and how she used this to her advantage throughout all aspects of her life. She presented herself as the earthly representative of Iris. This image/propaganda she created for herself helped her with her, ‘larger than life’ legacy.
Cleopatra rebelled against men's manipulation of her traditional role. One might argue that perhaps no man could have done as much as she was able to do to stave off Roman domination, even though her efforts eventually failed. the cause of race-rivalry has also taken place because of her legacy. Nevertheless her inclination towards cultural fusion, led to further cooperation as opposed to competition. There were also issues arising from cultural politics. Aspects of her legacy thus remain of more than a romantic interest.
Cleopatra’s place in world history is vital. She is the women who initially ascended to the throne where she was she was beset by tensions, petty rivalries, and veiled threats to her royal status. It was her brothers advisors that took every opportunity to discredit her. The most powerful of his advisors, Pothinus blamed her for the country’s continuing economic problems. Thanks to him and those courtiers who intrigued with him, she then became increasingly unpopular at court. In September 49 A.D. she was forced to flee the capital and go into hiding (accompanied by some still loyal servants and guards. Soon afterwards taking refuge in the neighboring land of Syria). However she overcame this. One might say, she spoke to the right people, and placed herself in the right position at the right time and in turn ended up becoming firstly the all-mighty Caesars lover, and then the just-as-powerful Marc Antony’s lover (and love of his life. Proved when, she killed herself, by a poisonous snake bite, and he travelled back to her monument and stabbed himself to death. He died in her arms in 30 A.D).
Concisely summarizing her life in the second-century A.D. Greek historian Dio Cassius wrote:
“Her initial rise to power in Egypt followed a series of mistakes made by her father. Largely an incompetent ruler. In his will he said that Cleopatra Vll (18) and her 10 year old brother Ptolemy XIII were to rule the country jointly.” This Primary source is a clear indication that Cleopatra as queen had to overcome all the follies and mistakes made by her father and also her brother (and his two advisors). If one thought that a person alone, let alone a women not a man, would not be able to fix and rid their country of these mistakes, whilst staving off Roman domination, alluring the two most powerful Romans of that time to fall in love with them and making Egypt a better country for all their people, than one is seriously mistaken. As Cleopatra did all of this, and more. It is for this reason that she is the top most influential person in world history.
Cleopatra was an independent women, whom showed the world, much before the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1960’s A.D that women are a man’s equal, that they too can do anything they want, just as a man, regardless of their sex. She did this by simply ridding her country of its mistakes. This life-long lesson was proven to the world thousands of years (in the ancient era) before women started to be seen as anything but housewives in the modern era.
One might argue that perhaps, what drew Anthony to Cleopatra was, ‘the fact that she, a foreign women had so many of the personal leadership qualities that he, a Roman man, sorely lacked. ’ During most of the time they were allied, she administered Egypt alone, and evidence suggests that she was a caring, capable, and efficient ruler who managed the economy well (unlike her father) and treated her people justly. She is yet again proving to not only the ancient world but also the modern world, that a woman and even a person alone can achieve anything.
During Cleopatra’s reign, in glaring contrast to those of her predecessors, there were no rebellions and tax collection proceeded normally. She improved and expanded agriculture, producing large surpluses of grain and other foodstuff, thus eliminating food shortages and lowering food prices. ‘Proof of her wise administrative policies and concern for her people’s welfare takes the form of a surviving decree, issued in her name, and also in Caesarion’s (her son with Caesar) on April 13, 41 B.C.’ All of this was done during a reign of a women alone. Something that even the men before her were unable to achieve.
Cleopatra showed her diligence and thoughtfulness as a ruler in other ways. She took the time to become fluent in Demotic Egyptian, the local language (something her ancestors never did) and used it, along with Greek at court. She also went to great lengths to observe Egyptian religious rites portraying herself as the earthly representative of Isis. It was this, want and determination to be the best and to be a ruler that her people can understand and be on the same level with in terms of language, that make her the top most influential person in world history. She realized that she had to make her people pleased and impressed by her. This is a strategy still used today, in the twenty-first century with democratic politicians. They talk in a colloquial language to get on the same level as there people. As this strategy allows the people to feel up-most comfortable with the politician and will therefore vote and support them.
Cleopatra’s legacy and achievements have proved to be ‘larger than life,’ as she was a living example of many things that we still, today use and believe. Therefore Cleopatra is the top most influential person in world history.
Historical perspectives on Cleopatra
There are many different historical perspectives of this immensely influential women. Some historians suggest that she was but a politically-striving, cold-hearted, manipulative, scheming women, whom could care less of anyone or anything that did not help her. Octavian, Caesars adopted son, called her a, whore.
Others say however, that she was a beautiful woman and it was her beauty and her sexual aspects that allowed for all she did and all that happened in her life become what they became.
Artifacts
Image:
Bibliography
Internet:
http://www.kingtutshop.com/freeinfo/cleopatra.htm
http://www.fi.edu/cleopatra/
Book:
Cleopatra Last Queen of Egypt. By Joyce Tyldesley. Published in Great Britain in 2008 by PROFILE BOOKS LTD
By Tamara Mansueto